PHILADELPHIA – Sure, it doesn’t take much to be a contender anymore. The Mets went into last night’s game against the Phillies only two games over .500 and in the thick of the NL East race.
It does take pitching, however, and that’s what the Mets have been getting under the guidance of new pitching CEO Rick Peterson.
Met ownership knew it had a winner in Peterson when he signed last winter. Peterson has shown himself to be one of the most valuable Mets.
In fact, with the All-Star break right around the corner, the Mets’ pitching looks a lot better than the Yankees’ arms these days.
The Mets were first in the majors with a 3.71 ERA while the Yankees were 20th overall with a 4.50 mark and getting uglier by the inning.
Met GM Jim Duquette knows whom to credit for the Mets mound advancement.
“We haven’t changed the pitching staff all that much from last year,” Duquette explained last night as raindrops were falling on his head at Citizens Bank Park, “and yet we’re improved. It’s not an accident. The major difference is having Rick on board and the preparation he does before every series and before each game.
“That gives the pitching staff confidence to attack hitters,” added Duquette, who is now trying to find the Richard Hidalgo of pitchers on the trade mart.
“They have a tremendous plan and are sticking to that plan and making the pitches.”
The Mets are executing their pitches, the Yankees aren’t.
After giving up 27 runs to the Mets in three games, the Yankees were pounded by the Tigers, surrendering 19 runs the last two games. That is no way to win a pennant. Even if you have a $180 million payroll you still have to execute from 60 feet, 6 inches.
The Mets, meanwhile, are coming off one of their best-pitched games of the year, a 4-1 gem by Al Leiter and relievers Ricky Bottalico, Mike Stanton and Braden Looper. Holding the slugging Phils to one run in comfy Citizens Bank Park is no easy task.
The Mets and Marlins trailed the Phils by two games heading into last night’s action. Both teams have solid pitching. Don’t look now, but the Braves, who always seem to win this division, are right back in the middle of the race. It is now a four-team sprint.
A month ago Larry Bowa said the Braves were not out of the race and he was right. The Mets were set to send Steve Trachsel to the mound last night against Brett Myers, weather permitting. Trachsel went in with an 8-6 record and 3.49 ERA, another solid ERA from a starting pitcher.
Peterson doesn’t look at numbers like ERA, though. He looks at efficiency rating, which is a formula essentially based on keeping runners off base. The Mets are doing a much better job at that now because they are getting ahead of the hitters, and that is the biggest difference.
Peterson is quick to credit the pitchers for making the adjustments and for allowing him to do his work, especially veteran pitchers like Leiter, who leads the majors with a 2.05 ERA, and Tom Glavine, who is fourth in the majors with a 2.49 ERA.
It’s all a matter of trust.
“I’m just so thankful for the opportunity,” Peterson said. “To have their support is tremendous. It’s kind of like them giving me the keys to their home and saying, ‘Make yourself at home. The refrigerator is over there, help yourself. Put your feet up on the furniture.’ They’ve just been totally receptive. My sense is that everybody is comfortable with what we’re doing, pitchers and catchers alike.”
Success breeds comfort.
